1 A nd it came to pass after this that Nahash king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.

Now it came about after this, that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon died, and his son became king in his place.

2 A nd David said, I will shew kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father shewed kindness to me. And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.

Then David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the sons of Ammon to Hanun to console him.

3 A nd the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Is it, in thine eyes, to honour thy father that David has sent comforters to thee? Is it not to search and overthrow, and to spy out the land that his servants are come to thee?

But the princes of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun, “ Do you think that David is honoring your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Have not his servants come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?”

4 A nd Hanun took David's servants, and had them shaved, and their raiment cut off in the midst, as far as the hip, and sent them away.

So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved them and cut off their garments in the middle as far as their hips, and sent them away.

5 A nd went and told David concerning the men; and he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Abide at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.

Then certain persons went and told David about the men. And he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly humiliated. And the king said, “ Stay at Jericho until your beards grow, and then return.”

6 A nd the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David; and Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and from the Syrians of Maacah, and from Zobah.

When the sons of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the sons of Ammon sent 1, 000 talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, from Aram-maacah and from Zobah.

7 A nd they hired thirty-two thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people; and they came and encamped before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered together from their cities, and came to battle.

So they hired for themselves 32, 000 chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people, who came and camped before Medeba. And the sons of Ammon gathered together from their cities and came to battle.

8 A nd David heard, and he sent Joab, and all the host, the mighty men.

When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army, the mighty men.

9 A nd the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance of the city; and the kings that had come were by themselves on the field.

The sons of Ammon came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field. Ammon and Aram Defeated

10 A nd Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind; and he chose out of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians;

Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him in front and in the rear, he selected from all the choice men of Israel and they arrayed themselves against the Arameans.

11 a nd the rest of the people he gave into the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon.

But the remainder of the people he placed in the hand of Abshai his brother; and they arrayed themselves against the sons of Ammon.

12 A nd he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me; and if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will help thee.

He said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you.

13 B e strong, and let us shew ourselves valiant for our people, and for the cities of our God; and Jehovah will do what is good in his sight.

Be strong, and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God; and may the Lord do what is good in His sight.”

14 A nd Joab and the people that were with him drew near in front of the Syrians to the battle; and they fled before him.

So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to the battle against the Arameans, and they fled before him.

15 A nd when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. And Joab came to Jerusalem.

When the sons of Ammon saw that the Arameans fled, they also fled before Abshai his brother and entered the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

16 A nd when the Syrians saw that they were routed before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the river; and Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer before them.

When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the River, with Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer leading them.

17 A nd it was told David; and he gathered all Israel, and passed over the Jordan, and came upon them, and set in array against them. And David put the battle in array against the Syrians, and they fought with him.

When it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan, and came upon them and drew up in formation against them. And when David drew up in battle array against the Arameans, they fought against him.

18 A nd the Syrians fled from before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and slew Shophach the captain of the host.

The Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed of the Arameans 7, 000 charioteers and 40, 000 foot soldiers, and put to death Shophach the commander of the army.

19 A nd the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were routed before Israel, and they made peace with David, and became his servants. And the Syrians would no more help the children of Ammon.

So when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and served him. Thus the Arameans were not willing to help the sons of Ammon anymore.